MTA calls for national fuel strategy

Petrol price rises in Perth following North Korea's missile tests have prompted a call for a national fuel strategy.

MTA calls for national fuel strategy

Petrol price rises in Perth following North Korea's missile tests have prompted a call for a national fuel strategy.

More incentives to use local fuels, such as gas, could help ease the hip-pocket pain Australians feel every time there is global unrest, the Motor Trades Association (MTA) says.

West Australian MTA executive director Peter Fitzpatrick has raised the issue after some BP petrol stations in Perth pumped up unleaded petrol prices by as much as 10.4 cents to $1.43 cents per litre at the weekend.

Other petrol stations have also increased their unleaded fuel prices, to an average today of $1.34 cents per litre in the metropolitan area.

"Are we going to sit here, let business and consumers get hit by a price hike in fuel every time there is industrial unrest in Nigeria or Venezuela, or if there is a problem in Russia, or Iran talks about nuclear weapons, or if North Korea fires a missile," Mr Fitzpatrick said.

The federal government has fuel taxation charges set in place until 2015, but has not detailed what fuel mix it expected to achieve by that date, he said.

"We need to see much stronger government leadership at both state and national level on renewable fuel sources," he said.

"Are we targeting, for example, to have 20 or 30 per cent of our fuel from renewable sources within the next five years, and if so, what are we doing about it?"

Mr Fitzpatrick said he would like to see a greater use of gas - a resource used by only 40,000 people out of 1.6 million powered vehicles in WA.

The government had to work more closely with industry to try and encourage a higher usage rate, he said.